Educational reform

Date: 1st March 2011Aim: To be able to suggest at one change the

government has made to education and whether or not you think it has improved education.

Is it true that there’s a new law that you can’t leave school until you are 18?

No, you do not have to be at school. The government’s aim is:

By 2015 all students aged up to 18 must be involved in some form of full or part time education or training at school, college or in employment.

New ideas to improve education:

1) Vocational training – work related learning2) National curriculum 3) Testing4) Competition5) League tables

What vocational courses are offered at Crown woods?How is vocational training different to other subjects studied?What sorts of students may prefer vocational courses?How might vocational courses be criticised?

When was the national curriculum introduced?Which subjects are compulsory?How are students assessed?How does it provide greater equality?What are the drawbacks?

At what age do students take SAT’s?What does SAT stand for?What is the aim of SATS exams?Why has the government removed testing at key stage 3?Why do some people criticise testing students?

Read the extract on p.113 in the orange box. Do you agree or disagree and why?

Read the extract on page 112 in the orange box.How do school try and attract parents to their school over others in the area?Should children just go to which ever school is nearest?How does making school compete against each other improve standards?What are the problems of having schools compete against each other for pupils?

BEST GCSE RESULTS IN ENGLAND 2009 – 100% 5 A*-C Including Maths and EnglishName, area TYPE OF SCHOOL Average points

scoreContextual value added

Invicta Grammar School, Kent CY B&E,L SEL GIRLS 764.5 1026.2

Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent FD SC,M&C SEL GIRLS 747.4 997.3

Colyton Grammar School, Devon FD SC,LEPP,LPS SEL MIXED 738.5 1035.1

Newstead Wood School for Girls, Bromley FD E,L SEL GIRLS 724.6 1004.6

Heckmondwike Grammar School, Kirklees FD T,L,TS SEL MIXED 689.9 1014.3

Austin Friars St Monica's, Cumbria IND MIXED 684.8 -

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham

VA M&C,L SEL GIRLS 673.8 1006

South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, Wiltshire FD M&C,SC SEL GIRLS 652.2 1014.2

The Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames FD M&C,L SEL GIRLS 650 1007.6

Name and Area Type of school% A*-C including English and Maths

Longton High School, Stoke-on-Trent CY A COMP MIXED 13%

Bishops Park College, Essex (S) CY COMP MIXED 13%

Excelsior Academy, Newcastle upon Tyne AC COMP MIXED 12%

The Marlowe Academy, Kent AC COMP MIXED 12%

City of Leeds School, Leeds CY COMP MIXED 12%

Wilmington Enterprise College, Kent CY B&E MOD MIXED 11%

City of Preston High School, Lancashire CY COMP MIXED 11%

Blakewater College, Blackburn with Darwen CY M&C COMP MIXED 11%

Staunton Community Sports College, Hampshire FD Sp COMP MIXED 10%

St Peter's Church of England and Specialist Arts College, Essex

VA A COMP MIXED 8%

Worst performing schools in the UK, 2009

Where is Crown Woods in the school league tables for this area?

• http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schooltables/greenwich-1380149.html

Why were league tables introduced?What sort of schools are more likely o be at the top of the league tables and why?What sort of schools are more likely to be at the bottom of league tables and why?Why might league tables improve standards in education?Why might league tables be unhelpful?

Changes that the government has madeto improve standards in education

over the last 20 years.

Policy Description Do you think it has improved educational standards?

Describe one change that government has made to education and explain if it has improved schools or not. (5)

One change could be introducing league tables.

This means that schools are ranked according to exam results

It has improved results because schools towards the bottom have pressure on them to improve. This is because if they are towards the bottom parents may be less likely to send their child to that school. For example, a school may have enrichments to make sure students get good results.

One mark for identifying a change

One mark for explaining it (2/2)

3/3 Explain using key terms and an example

You can argue in favour

One change could be _________________________

This means that _________________________

It has improved schools because _________________________

This means that _________________________

For example _________________________

Describe one educational reform since 1997 and explain how it has improved education. (5)

Describe one change in education since 1997 and explain how this change could have increased or decreased educational opportunities. (5)

Describe one way that governments have attempted to improve educational standards over the last 20 years and explain how successful this policy has been (5)

Describe one way that the government has improve schools and explain how this has raised standards. (5)

Describe one way that the government has attempted to introduce competition between schools and explain how this has raised standards. (5)

What changes would you make to schools of you were education minister?

What tests would you give children?Would you have some compulsory subjects or can students choose whatever they want?At what age would compulsory education end?Would you give students money to study?

You have 10 minutes to plan then I will pick 5 people at random to explain their ideas to the class.

The class will then elect a new minister for education.

To what extent do sociologists agree that if we had more testing in schools, there would be better exam

results. (12)

In groups, mind map what points you would include in this essay, then be ready to present your ideas in 10 minutes.